I Don't Believe in Atheists

The New York Times bestselling author speaks out against those who attack religion to advance their own agenda: global capitalism, intolerance, and imperial projects.

There are two radical and dangerous sides to the debate on faith and religion in America: Christian fundamentalists, who see religious faith as their exclusive prerogative, and New Atheists, who brand all religious belief as irrational. Too often, the religious majority-those committed to tolerance and compassion as well as their faith-are caught in the middle.

Chris Hedges critiques the mindset that rages against religion and faith. He accuses the New Atheists-led by Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and Christopher Hitchens-of promoting a belief system that is not, as they claim, based on reason and science, but on a simplified worldview of us vs. them, intolerance toward behaviors that are not understood, and the false myths of human progress and moral superiority. Ultimately, he makes way for new, moderate voices to join the debate. A timely, compelling work for anyone who wants to understand the true state of the battle about faith today.

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Jalyth does not know who Chris Hedges is? Why not find out his qualifications before slamming him solely because, “I’ve never heard of Chris Hedges before. I don't know who he is, or what his qualifications are.” If Jalyth had read the book Preface by Chris Hedges, he would have learned he wrote the book after debating Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens. I suppose if writing a book as a result of the debated issues and to again refute his opponents’ arguments is name dropping, well, then it is name dropping.
Also in the preface, it is noted Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, covering wars in Central America and the Middle East for the New York Times for 15 years, and was the NY Times Bureau Chief in the Middle East for about 6 years. Also, his Seminary education at Harvard probably taught him a thing or two of religion and religions.
While preachy in tone, Chris Hedges uses reason to explain why he does not believe in fanatical atheists as much as he does not believe in fanatical religious individuals, why humankind will not advance morally with their current, and natural animal, behavior. This book brings reality to the fallacy of faith; faith in scientific, religious, or any other single source to reach Utopia, pointing out the flaws in the human thought process. This is a reasoned reality check for society today.

I've never heard of Chris Hedges before. I don't know who he is, or what his qualifications are.

He speaks about how we are hurting the planet, as a species, environmentally. I agree with that. Then he somehow blames it on Christopher Hitchens. That's where the disconnect comes in.

I think he could have a very interesting book discussing whether or not humanity as a whole is progressing morally (he thinks no). I think he could have a very interesting book critiquing much of what Hitchens has said, especially about Iraq.

This book is some strange combination of the two. He keeps talking about the "new atheists", which amounts as far as I can tell, to 4 people. Maybe they don't speak for all atheists? He seems to understand the difference between liberation theology and fundamentalist Christian beliefs such as a 6000-year-old earth.

Because I've heard of the atheists he condemns in this book, and not Hedges himself, I couldn't help but think that he is name-dropping. As if he wouldn't have been able to sell the book without reference to famous people. I could have really been into what he was saying; I think I agree with every political viewpoint he mentioned. I even think Hitchens is kind of a jerk and don't listen blindly to anything he says. However, this book didn't work for me. It felt vitriolic and polemical.